Today the Virginia Department of Transportation began placing electronic message boards in the Shadwell area to announce the closure of the Route 250 bridge.

Restoration of the bridge, which includes the complete replacement of the bridge deck, requires it to be closed to traffic from May 1 to July 9. During the closure, westbound traffic will be detoured onto Interstate 64 at Exit 129 (Route 616/Black Cat Road) and back onto Route 250 at Exit 124 (Shadwell). Eastbound traffic will reverse the detour. All private and commercial entrances on both sides of the bridge will remain open during the closure.

In the coming week, VDOT will add an additional lane on the entrance ramp from Route 250 east onto I-64 east at Shadwell to increase capacity during peak traffic times. Police will assist the traffic flow at Exit 129 during high-volume periods.

VDOT will monitor traffic conditions using several temporary traffic cameras and provide updates using the permanent message boards on I-64, as well as several temporary message boards along Route 250. Real-time access to traffic information is available at 511Virginia.org or by calling 511.